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Abstract This research has developed a piece of sanitizing locker-model equipment for textiles exposed to avian coronavirus, which has been put under the influence of UV light, UV + zinc oxide nanoparticles (phytosynthesized ZnONP), and water + UV, and, in turn, under the influence of the exposure time (60, 120, 180 s). The results linked to the phytosynthesis of ZnONP indicate a novel method of fabricating nanostructured material, nanoparticles with spherical morphology and an average size of 30 nm. The assays were made based on the viral viability of avian coronavirus according to the mortality of SPF embryonated eggs and a Real-Time PCR for viral load estimation. This was a model to evaluate the sanitizing effects against coronaviruses since they share a very similar structure and chemistry with SAR-CoV-2. The influence of the type of textile treatment evidenced the potential effect of the sanitizing UV light, which achieved 100% of embryo viability. The response of the ZnONP + UV nebulization showed a notorious influence of photoactivation according to the exposure time, and the 60-s treatment achieved a decrease of 88.9% in viral viability, compared to 77.8% and 55.6% corresponding to the 120 and 180-s treatments, respectively. Regarding the decrease in viral load between the types of treatments, UV 180 s reduced 98.42% and UV 60 s + ZnONP reduced 99.46%, respectively. The results show the combinatorial effect of UV light and zinc nanoparticles in decreasing the viral viability of avian coronavirus, as a model of other important coronaviruses in public health such as SARS-CoV-2.

The potential for the application of metal-containing nanomaterials at the nanoscale promotes the opportunity to search for new methods for their elaboration, with special attention to those sustainable methods. In response to these challenges, we have investigated a new method for green synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs) using Myrciaria dubia juice as an organic reductant and, comparing it with chemical synthesis, evaluating in both cases the influence of the volume of the organic (juice) and chemical (ascorbic acid) reductants, for which a large number of techniques such as spectrophotometry, EDX spectrometry, TEM, SEM, DLS, FTIR spectroscopy have been used. Likewise, the nanomaterial with better morphological characteristics, stability, and size homogeneity has been applied in the functionalization of textiles by means of in situ and post-synthesis impregnation methods. The success of the synthesis process has been demonstrated by the antimicrobial activity (bacteria and fungi) of textiles impregnated with Cu2O NPs.

In this study, the effect of operating temperature at 55 °C on xLi2MnO3-(1-x)LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 electrodes during the charge/discharge process at different current densities was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for structural and morphological analysis of the fabricated cathode materials, while charge-discharge curves and differential capacity were used to study the electrochemical behavior. Results confirm the formation of the structures with two phases associated with the components of the layered material. It was found that at 55 °C, a capacity higher than 357 mAh g-1 could be achieved at a voltage of 2.5-4.8 V vs. Li/Li+, which was larger than the capacity achieved at room temperature. At 55 °C, a change in valence could be observed during charging and discharging due to the change in the position of the peaks associated with Mn and Ni, highlighting cathodic material with x = 0.5 as the material that retains the layered structure at this temperature. This work confirms the good performance of electrodes made with this material at elevated temperatures and gives a better understanding of its electrochemical behavior.

In our study, the cathodic material xLi2MnO3–(1−x)LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 was synthesized by means of the co-precipitation technique. The effect of x (proportion of components Li2MnO3 and LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2) on the structural, morphological, and electrochemical performance of the material was evaluated. Materials were structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the morphological analysis was performed using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, while charge–discharge curves and differential capacity and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to study the electrochemical behavior. The results confirm the formation of the structures with two phases corresponding to the rhombohedral space group R3m and the monoclinic space group C2/m, which was associated to the components of the layered material. Very dense agglomerations of particles between 10 and 20 µm were also observed. In addition, the increase in the proportion of the LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2 component affected the initial irreversible capacity and the Li2MnO3 layer’s activation and cycling performance, suggesting an optimal chemical ratio of the material’s component layers to ensure high energy density and long-term durability.

Tomato is an important crop due to its nutritional contributions and organoleptic properties, which make it an appetizing vegetable around the world. In its sowing, the use of seed is the most accessible propagation mechanism for farmers. However, the induction to germination and emergence is often limited in the absence of stimulants that promote the development and growth of the seedling, added to the interference of infectious agents that notoriously reduce the vitality and viability of the seed. Given this, it was proposed as a research objective to determine the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) mediated by a green route on the germinative characteristics of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 1768 “tomato”. The experimental phase consisted of the synthesis of ZnO NPs and its subsequent characterization. After its synthesis, its inoculation was conducted during the germination of seeds of L. esculentum, considering six sample groups for the treatment with zinc nanoparticles (T1: Control; T2: 21.31 ppm; T3: 33.58 ppm; T4: 49.15 ppm; T5: 63.59 and T6: 99.076 ppm). The results indicate that concentrations close to 100 ppm of ZnO NPs are ideal in the treatment of L. esculentum seeds, due to the promotion of enzymatic and metabolic activity to achieve cell elongation; likewise, the biosynthesized nanoparticles showed no phytotoxicity, due to the fact that, in all the treatments, there were processes of germination and emergence. This was linked to the generation of a Zn0-phenolate complex through a chelating effect, which generates compatibility with the seed and, compared to classic inorganic synthesis, usually shows phytotoxicity. In this sense, green synthesis is presented as a great alternative in this type of application.

The study evaluates five types of commercial textiles with different cotton and polyester contents widely used in the garment industry. These textile samples have been subjected to treatment by the exhaustion method using zinc oxide nanoparticles (NP ZnO) (textile functionalization) with the aim of improving their efficiency in blocking UV radiation. The ZnO nanoparticles have been obtained by two methods: The green or also called biosynthesis (using the extract of Coriandrum sativum as an organic reducing agent), and the chemical method (using NaOH as an inorganic reducing agent). The results related to the green method show having achieved a defined geometric configuration with an average size of 97.77 nm (SD: 9.53). On the contrary, the nanostructures obtained by the chemical method show pentagonal configurations with average sizes of 113 nm (SD: 6.72). The textiles functionalized with NP ZnO obtained by biosynthesis showed a better efficiency in blocking ultraviolet radiation (UV).